General News of Tuesday, 21 November 2017

Source: classfmonline.com

New Regions: Commission of Inquiry begins hearing

Dan Botwe is Regional Re-organisation and Development Minister Dan Botwe is Regional Re-organisation and Development Minister

The presidential Commission of Inquiry on the creation of the new regions is set to meet petitioners from the Western Region, as it begins its hearing of petitioners' concerns today, Tuesday, 21 November 2017.

The commission was set up to help government realise its campaign promise to create additional regions to the existing 10.

The commission is expected to peruse all petitions as well as collate public views on how best to proceed with the request, to split up some regions subject to a referendum.

So far, the commission has received petitions from the Northern, Western, Brong Ahafo and Volta regions with each making strong cases why their respective regions should be divided.

In line with the government’s campaign promises, the proposed Oti Region would be carved out of the Volta Region while Brong Ahafo would be split into Brong and Ahafo regions. Also, the Western-North Region would be created out of the Western Region.

Meanwhile, the Minister of Regional Reorganisation and Development, Dan Botwe has disclosed that only GHS3.5million has been given to his ministry for the creation of the four new regions.